The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8264, 18 October 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

By OWEN MASTERS. Author of "Clyda's Love Dream," "Nina's .Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Woodcroft," 4t For Love ofM arjorie," etc.

CHAPTER ll.—Continued. At the ontranoe to Central Park, Diok Tressidy cam© to a halt. The park whs almost deserted at this early hour, and he remembered that he bad not yet breakfasted. He turned to retrace hia steps, when he heard his name spoken—half hesitantly. 'Mr Tressidy!' And within half-a-dozen paces of him was Pauline Eeitz. . Diok blushed, an! raised his hat. He had a trick of blushing almost like a girl, and Pauline smiled in bis face. 'I thought that I couldn't bo mntaben, Mr Tressidy,' she said, ingenuously. 'You bave something of the v swagger of a guardsman when you wwlk. You are surprised to see me abroad so early in the day?' , , •Well—yes, I "am.' Diok was looking straight into her radiant eyes. »I understood from Mr Stark that you would be out until the small home."

["The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17tli.]

'Perhaps I am jasfc returning hornel' she answered jestingly. 'But you are dressed differeutly, and look altogether too charming to have been tha victim of a night without a "■'•* She reddelled slightly, and her blaok eyes smolde'red. 'Panoy a man noticing, one's dress! And I had no idea that Englishmen tried to pur compliments so early on a winter's morning. You Britishers are credited with being shielded by an icy reserve, and the weather is ten degrees below zero, too!' •We are credited with a lot wbioh is undeserved, Miss Reitz,' Dick sa^d. 'Miss Reitz!' she repeated. 'So Mr Stark has told yon something of my history? And that I am to marry his son Prank? What gossips men are!' She reddened with anger. 'But don't believe anything yon hear, MrTressidy; Prnnk Stark's a nice boy, but 1 shall never marry him. There, now the oars have cassed, and we can cross the way. You are going back to your hotel?' 'Yes. I couldn't resist a walk before breakfast.' Dick spoke with some constraint. 'I never miss my morning ooastitutjqnal,' Pauline said. 'I have been to look at the lake. There will be some, fine skating there, to-day. you skate, Mr Tresßidy?' 'A little—plenty of dash and go. 1 hate the soroll-arid-flgure business.' 'Then, as you are here for the fun Of It, yon shall be my escort! Papa aays that you are to be one of the family for quite awhile.' She turned, and whistled shrilly to a big Saint Bernard dog that was trotting sedately behind. 'One of the members of my menagerie,' she told Dick laughingly. 'I have a splendid collection of animalß, Mr Tressidy; half-a-dozen dogs of tho larger breeds, a few snakes, a panther, and a lionl' 'Oh!' exclaimed Dick. 'The dogs are all right, but the others- ' •You shall see them, , and judge for yourself. Must animals are capable of/gratitude—of love. They are as easily influenced by kindness as by the vioes of cruel masters. Won't you come now? Won't you breakfast with us*' "Her smouldering black eyes were flxe'd upon his. They had come to a halt at the gate of Chester Stark's house, and Dick halted. 'Why not?' Pauline repeated. 'I can't resist you, Miss Reitz. I believe you have magnetized me!' be answered with a laugh. A servant took charge of the Saint Bernard, and Dick soon found himself shaking hands with Chester Stark and his son Prank. There was no mistaking the hearty good will of both father and son. Their faces beamed the exhilaration of a cordial welcome. ?'Mr Tressidy wanta to see how we do things in the States,( Chester Stark said to his son, a twinkle in his eyes. 'He can't understand how we capture contraots from the British colonies, and pay our workmen thirty per cent more than his firm does." You don't mind the speech of a blunt man—eh, Tressidy? My eon started with his nose to the grindstone at fifteen, and has done a day's work every working day since. Now, what have you done?' 'Spent balf-a-million do'lars probablj, and never earned a cent,' Djck answered goodhumouredly. 'And 1 dcu't think 1 will begin worrying myself at twenty-seven years or age.' 'And, when you seo our machinery, it will be a revelation to you, ' Tressidy. Not an ouoco of waste, sir.' He laughed loudly. The last time 1 visited the old country, I saw a ponderous arrangement for making nuts and bolts. Thn foolish monster was exhibited with pride, and 1 bad to give my word of honour not to infringe upon the owner's rights 1 As a matter of fact, I have machines not a tenth of the size producing ten times as much work as the British leviathan. It is the same regarding most things with your people, Trepsidy. Waste of power —antiquated methods. A mere ten tar ceut knocks you out of the markets of the New World. 1 quite understand tbut it would spell ruin to most of the old concerns to tear out their plants, bat the young blood of tho country must bestir itself, and wake np, for the future -of bid England is imperilled.' Dick looked a trifle concerned. '1 believe that you are frying to soare me, Mr Stark i We seem to hold our own pretty well. Still, I am interested, and I am at your service when you feel inclined to take hie iu hand.' Frank Stark smiled meaningly at his father. He wbs a shrewd, hardheaded young fe'low, he consider-

Ed it absurd to associate practical knowledge with the careless and foppish Englisdtnan. 'I should imagine that sport is more in his line,* he reflooted balfoonfcemptuously, 'and lady-billing. Pauline is smitten already!' He pushed bis chair baok from the breakfast-tablH, and jumped up, saying: 4 Fou will exouse me, Mr Tressidy; I'm due at the Petersen works before ten, and it'll be bad travelling.' Chester Stark accompanied bis son to another room, to talk oyer a few items of business, and Dick was left alone with Pauline Reitz. •I am looking forward to an introduction to your pete,' he said. 'I have met with panthers in Egypt, tigers in India, and lions in Africe, but I cannot say that any of them evinced the faintest demre to be on friendly terms with me. J suppose these animals of yours are undersized, olawless, and toothless apologies tor the real things?' She did not reply, but turned upon his: her fathomless eyeß. She seemed to be looking at him, through him, beyond him. He moved uneasily, and her dark face softened; it became human—womanly. . , 'Don't make fun of my pete, she said softly. 'iTrank does that, only in another way. He saye that there is some wonderful affinity between me and the panther—that I have the same feline expression when angry. Don't you be unbind also, Mr Tressidy, ,ob, how I thirst for a little human sympathy ana lovel' Sho saw his perplexed amazement, and smiled into his eyes. 'I am a strange creature— everybody says so. I make no friends; 1 attract and repel at the same time. Do you find me, bo very different from other girls, Mr Tressidy?' 'I have had very little to do with girls, Miss Keitz' stammered Dick. 'Then you have never loved anyone?' she said, eagerly. «No,' be smiled, shaking his head. 'l've always been too lazy even to think about snob things.' She clapped her handß, as a de lighted child might have done. i 'Huahi Mr Stark is coming!'

CHAPTER 111. NEWS PROM ENGLAND. The days shipped by, and lengthened into weeks. The Starks made life very pleasant for Dick Tressidy, and he was permitted in most things to follow the bent of his own sweet will, if he preferred to stay indoors and read, orjplay billiards, no one Baid him nay, and Pauline Reitz was usually his companion. Pauline was expert at most manly games. If he wont sleighing, it waß with Pauline, and whole days were spent in Central Park, until the frost gave way to the first herald of spring. . It was Pauline who listened to his stories of his father, his one dear little sister, bis home, and of beautiful England. 'And the girl's faoe would become radiant, and her splendid eyes flame into iroving flres.«, ~ '1 must see England,' she said. 'Papa has told me about the long, winding lanes, the soented hedgerows, and the luxurious wildflowere. I should like to live there half of each year, and the other half here. Whiob is the best time in England, Dick? Yes, it had come to the free use of each other's Christain name, they had grown.su 'chummy.' ♦Oh, the spring,' he said dreamily. 'The spring is beautiful—soft, balmly air, blue skieß, with fluffy little clouds, myriads of flowers peeping through the grass, and no end of Hinging bird?; the summer «j the same, only better; the autumn's about like yours, but the winter's a bit off, 1 must admit.* 'Then I will winter in New York,' Pauline announced. i 'What shall you do with the menagerie?' 'Take it with me.' Her face darkened, and she clenched her hand tightly. *I dare not leave my pets here. Who would take care of them? 1 know that Frank Stark hates them—l know that he would cause them to be poisoned. How different you are, Diok; your sympathy is very dear to me.' Por a moment the luster of her eyes «va& almost insupportable; she leaned toward him, and he felt that they wore burning into his soul. He jumped up suddenly. 'Lets have a look at tho animals, Pauline. It mpy be the last time; my father's letter—' He stepped, and a troubled look stole over his faoe. That last letter from England had breathed some indefinable fear, and he disliked unpleasant things in a cowardly, shrinking fashion. 'The last timel' repeated Pauline. She laid one hand caressingly on his shoulder. 'The last time, Dick. Come!' •y. (To be Continued.)